Tirone (The Night Skulls MC #2)(74)
“There is no fucking way in fucking hell I’m doing any business with that fucker!”
I walked toward him and carefully put my hands on his shoulders. “I know you’re angry, but once you calm down and start thinking clearly, you’ll know this may be the best solution to all our mob problems.”
“No,” he snarled.
“How does that make you any different from Bandidos? They won’t work with you because you hate each other over Delilah. You won’t work with the Bellomos because you hate each other over Madeline, which is even more infuriating since Michele isn’t a Bellomo; he’s a bodyguard that works for them, and I am your wife, not my mom.”
“You fucking shitting me right now? You can’t be fucking jealous of your dead mom, Jo, not now. He didn’t protect your mother. She’s dead because he didn’t take care of her like he should have.”
“For fuck’s sake it’s not Michele’s fault. I—”
“It’s not yours either. At least, you did something to save her.”
I took a trembling breath, closing my eyes before I cried again. “If that’s true, then you can’t blame Michele for her death either. It’s the Larvins’ fault, and you have a chance to make them pay for it, but only if you side with the right team.
“Think about it, Laius. The Lanzas, who have a long history of betrayal with their allies and in their own family, might give you the Larvins, but with them you’ll lose everything else. The Bellomos, who saved my life and took me in when I had nobody, who are powerful enough to stand up to the two mob families threatening everything you hold dear, will give you the Larvins while letting you keep your turf.”
“You don’t know that. Sebastiano Bellomo is the fucking devil himself.”
“And you want to side with his enemy? You’re a lot smarter than that, Furore. You didn’t rule Houston by clouding your judgment with jealousy and rage. Listen to what Michele has to offer, at least. Negotiate. Reach a deal that gives you the best solution out there. Please don’t make angry, hasty decisions that could ruin everything for all of us. The Lanzas and the Bellomos are going to war sooner or later. Michele Pagani is the only father I’ve known. You’re my husband. You can’t antagonize the only people that were kind to me when my own blood wanted me dead.”
“I am your fucking husband. You belong to me and the Night Skulls. You have no obligation to anyone but us. Your loyalty is for me and the MC, which I fucking rule. It’s my call.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “Then know this when you call the shots, Prez. I will never side with Michele’s enemies. I’d rather give myself to the Larvins than see that day.”
CHAPTER 42
Jo
“That concludes our class today. Please turn your assignment by Monday. If you have questions, I’m one email away. See y’all tomorrow,” I said, and the students buzzed to leave the classroom. My gaze shifted to the windows, like it’d been doing every minute. I was so nervous after I’d learned the news about the Larvins. I didn’t want to leave the compound in the first place, but Laius said we all needed to act normal to prove to them we weren’t afraid of them.
But we were. He doubled the security at the school. Normally, it was a rotation between a couple of prospects. Sometimes, Marshall or Doc hovered, too, but it was mainly Rex’s job to protect me here. How fucking ironic. Most of the time, it was Tirone I needed protection from more than I’d ever needed from the mob.
I’d begged Laius to stay with me all night yesterday, convincing him I was afraid to be alone because of the horrible news, but it wasn’t the Larvins’ visit I feared the most.
“You should really drop that stupid accent, Miss M.” Tirone yanked me out of one fear and shoved me into another. The students were leaving, and he was still in his seat. Why?
“Go to your next class, Tirone. You don’t want to be late.”
He chuckled. Then, as the last student left, he got up and went to the windows. My heart banged, and when he turned the blinds up, I darted toward the door.
In a split-second, he blocked the way and his hand was fast with the lock. “You can’t run from me, Jo. You made your husband guard you like a dog last night, but today, he can’t save you from me. Here, you’re mine.”
“This is a fucking classroom. Students will be here any minute.”
“Oh, they’ll wait. When they know it was us in here, Rex and his stepmom from the MC having a talk, they’ll fucking wait. No one messes with the Night Skulls, little faerie.”
“Laius sent many people in today. If the students don’t suspect anything, the prospects will.”
“And I give a shit because?” He dipped his fingers under my wig, tangling them into my hair, his lips on mine, kissing, biting, sucking, licking. When I fought, his hand squeezed around my throat as his tongue invaded my mouth.
I bit him. I fucking bit him so hard blood came into my mouth, and then, as he groaned a curse, I slapped him. “Don’t. Fucking. Touch. Me.”
He stared at me with fire in his eyes, rage flames dancing with carnal desire. I sprinted back to the door, but he used his male strength and held my waist with ironclad arms, pulling me in the air and bending me over my own desk.